Casket



G. L. WEST Aug. 24, 1943.

CASKET Filed May 7, 1942 5 SheetsSheet l Elma/whom GEORGE L. 55 T I I l I I //l//////////l I I l///////// G. L. WEST CASKET Filed May 7, 1942 I glwuamton GEORGE! Wes-r {in-g mum Aug. 24, 1943.

Aug. 24, 1943.

G. L. WEST 2,327,949

CASKET I Filed May 7, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet ,3

X y L J38 E Fig-Z I I l 38 1 L15 I gwue/vvbo'v GEO/e65 L Wasr S ew g ff 3 Mommy Patented Aug. 24, 1943 j -umw=sm s PATENT O F E V 1 CASKET George L. West. Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Pitts- I burgh Plate Glass Company, Allegheny County} I Pa.,'a corporationof Pennsylvania 1 i Y r Application May 7,? 1942, Serial No. 442,051:-

(cl. 27-s) 7 tirelyaround and above the upper edges of the 4 Claims.

This invention relates to burial caskets and it has particular relation to'a casket in the struc: ture of which vitreous plates are combined with other essentially non-metallic materials.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved casket in. which vitreous plate material constitutes a principal part.

Another object of the inventionjis to provide an improved combination of structural Carrara glass and essentially non-metallic material in the fabrication of a burial casket. a

In the drawings: y

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a casket constructed according to theinvention; Fig. 2 is. an end elevation of the casket; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on a larger scale taken substantially along the line III-III of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a vertical section on a larger scale taken substantially along the line IVIV of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on a larger scale taken substantially along theline V--V of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is across section 34 and is provided with openings 4| disposed dishowing details of a corner construction of a casket before final assembling thereof; and Fig. i

'7 is a vertical section showing details of corner construction of a casket after final assembly thereof.

I In practicing the invention an improved casket l0 includes a base slab l3 of wood around which wooden molding rails M are mounted to form a rectangular enclosing frame that is rabbeted, as

indicated at l5, to receive the edges of the base slab. Upright vitreous end and side walls It are seated in rectangular plan inside the frameof molding rails M which project above the surface of the slab. These vitreous walls form joints l8 with the four sides of a horizontal rectangular plate that lies flat upon the base slab 13.

A layer of asphalt mastic 2|, or the like, is applied to the inside surface of the upright or horizontal vitreous plates 13 and 23 and a lining of wooden boards 23 is secured thereto. The mastic adheres firmly to the boards and to the vitreous surfaces to provide a stable composite wall structure.

Upright rails or pillars 25 extending from the frame of railings M are disposed at the corners and along the side walls l6 and are secured at their lower ends in the frame l4 which is provided with apertures 26 (Fig. 3) to receive such lower ends. The upper ends of these upright rails are likewise secured to horizontal rails 33 in apertures 3| formed therein. These upper rails 39 are in the form of a rectangular frame surrounding the upper portion of the casket body and such frame defines an inner shoulder 32 extending englass of rectangular shape, is adapted to rest along its four marginal portions upon the ledge rectly over the upper edges of the wooden board lining 23. A wooden channel structure 43 slightly wider than the ledge extends entirely around the latter and rests thereon in the form of a rectangular endless frame. This frame has a lower channel 45 facing downwardly and, as indicated in Fig. 6, the channel portion overlies at least a part of the groove 36, as well as the sealing rope 38. These elements are thus concealed by the channel frame.

Before the casket is sealed, the case-hardened plate 4!] rests upon the upper side of the channel frame 43 (Fig. 6) and in this condition the casket can be shipped. After a body has been placed in the casket, the frame 43 is removed and the plate 43 is placed with its marginal portions pressing the sealing mastic into the groove 36. Suitable fastening elements, such as screws 50, each having metal and waterproof fiber washers 53 and 54, respectively, thereon, are then inserted through the openings 4| andscrewed into the wooden lining 23 until the sealing mastic is pressed to fill the groove 36. The channel frame 43 is mounted upon the plate 4| with its upper side substantially flush with the upper edge of the frame 33 and with the screws and sealing mastic entirely concealed thereby.

A lid 63 for the casket is hinged. as indicated at 6|, along one side of the upper frame 30. An endless wooden frameli3 constitutes the border of the lid and fits symmetrically upon the upper frame 3!). A horizontal wall of boards 64 is secured in an inner lower rabbeted portion 61 of the frame and upright wooden braces 68 secured to the horizontal boards 34 partially support a top panel 63 of vitreous material, such as opaque Carrara glass which is fitted into a rabbeted portion Hi formed in the inner upper edges of the frame 63. Suitable securing means maintain the top panel in place.

It is to be understood that the vitreous walls can be in the form of structural Carrara glass or other types of glass. However, it is preferable to been shown and described in detail, it will be ape.

parent to those skilled in the art that the inand sides of the base slab, anupper frame surrounding the upper edges of the upright walls to form an upper retaining structure for the plates and extending above the latter, upright pillars extending from thelower to the upper frame and anchored therein, and a lid including a rectangw lar frame hinged to the upper rail structure.

3-. A burial casket ,comprising a rectangular base slab, lower rails surrounding the edges of the base slab and defining inner shoulders disposed around the slab, horizontal virteous plate v lying flat upon the base slab, upright vitreous vention is not so limited, but that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the.

scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A burial casket comprising a rectangular" base slab, lower rails surrounding the edges of the base slab and defining inner shoulders, a horizontal vitreous plate lying flat against the b'as'ef slab,- upright vitreous plates disposed againstsaid shoulders at the ends and sides ofthe base slab, upper rail structure surroundingthe-upper edges of the upright plates to forma rectangular retaining frame for the plates; up-

rightpillarscovering the outer upright corners formetrby'thenpright plates and connected rigidly to the upper andlower rails, anda lid havmg a rectangul'ar'framehinged to the upper rail structure and including a vitreous-"panel surroun'dedflby and connected tothe lid frame;

' '2. burialcaslret comprising a rectangular base slab; alovver rail surrounding the edges of I the base slab-and defining inner shouldersdis posed around the slab; a horizontal vitreous plate lying' fia't upon the base-"slab,' upright Vitreous walls disposed against said shoulders at'the ends' walls disposed against said shoulders at the ends and sides of the base slab, an upper frame surrounding thegupper: edges of the upright walls to form? an upper-retaining structure for the plates and extending above'the latter, upright pillars extending "from the lower to the upper frame and anchored therein, a transparent glass plate resting upon the top of the upright walls inside the upperra il' structure, and a lid including a. rec-V I tangular frame hinged tothe upper "rail. strucev turev t 4. A rectangular burial casket comprising upright walls; a bottom of'vitre'ous material non metallic horizontal frames covering the upper and lower outerv cornersof the casket, meansfor holding the frames in supporting relation to .the walls, the upper edges of the waills deiining'a' horizontal ledge; a plate'of glass removablyien f; gageable upon the ledge inside the. upper frame,

and a frame removably .engageabi'le uponv the ledge and adapted to support the latter. glass plate upon said ledge, the positions .ofjthe 'removable frame and removable gla'ssplate being reversible.

' GEORGE L. 1' 

